Rise Up! Reston Pride Celebrates Local LGBTQ+ Community

by Lake Mannikko, Staff Writer

Photo by Jennifer Heffner, East 27 Creative

Lake Anne Plaza is always a colorful place, but no time of year is it more colorful than in June, when Reston Pride hosts its annual festival. Decorated with rainbow flags and chalk art, the plaza became a beacon of love and acceptance, celebrating the diversity of Reston residents and those in the greater Northern Virginia community. Upbeat music, exciting drag performances, and empowering speeches drew crowds around the Washington Plaza Baptist Church.

This year marked the debut of the Rising Voices Concert, held on May 31, followed by Reston’s largest Pride festival to date, featuring 70 vendors, on June 1. Reston Pride was not always this big—it began in 2018 as an event in a house of worship. With each passing year, the event grew, eventually moving to its current venue at Lake Anne. Even the COVID pandemic couldn’t stop Reston Pride, as the annual celebration was held in a virtual setting in 2020.

Photo by Jennifer Heffner, East 27 Creative

Reston Pride board Vice President Kyle R. describes the event as “Welcoming, affirming, healing, and rallying.” Kyle R. has served on the Reston Pride board since 2022, where their mission is to advocate for and celebrate our queer community.

“We have always been here,” said Reston Pride President Bri Morgan in her opening speech. “In every generation, in every culture, in every corner of the world, and we are not going anywhere. This year’s theme is Rise Up, and it couldn’t be more urgent… Rise up with your voice. Rise up with your presence. Because Pride without action is just a party. But Pride with purpose? That’s a movement.”

The nationwide Pride movement dates back to June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn: a bar that served as a popular meeting spot for LGBTQ New York residents. Since then, marches, parades, and festivals occur every June, celebrating and fighting for LGBTQ+ rights.